An Insight Into the 911 Dispatch Codes

Did you know that every city in the United States and Canada has its own set of 911 dispatch codes? These codes are used by emergency responders to communicate with each other during an emergency. Each code has a specific meaning, and dispatchers use them to relay information about the emergency to the appropriate responders. For example, if someone is reporting a fire, the dispatcher might say “11-71” to indicate that there is a fire at the scene.

In this article, we will take a closer look at 911 dispatch codes and what they mean. We will also discuss some of the most common codes and how they are used.

10 - Series Codes

The 10-series codes are used to describe the type of incident. The number following the “10” indicates the type of emergency. For example, “10-31” could be used to indicate a structure fire, while “10-50” means that there has been an auto accident.

10-0 Caution
10-1 Reception poor
10-2 Reception good
10-3 Stop transmitting
10-4 Message received, understood
10-5 Relay message
10-6 Change channel
10-7 Out of service
10-7A Out of service, home
10-7B Out of service, personal
10-8 In service
10-9 Repeat the message
10-10 Off duty
10-10A Off duty, home
10-11 Identify the frequency
10-12 Visitor(s) present
10-13 Weather and road advice
10-14 Citizen w/suspect
10-15 Prisoner in custody
10-16 Pick up prisoner
10-17 Request for gasoline
10-18 Equipment exchange
10-19 Return(ing) to station
10-20 Location
10-21 Telephone
10-21A Advise home I will return at:
10-22 Disregard the last assignment
10-23 Stand by
10-24 Request car-to-car transmit
10-25 Do you have contact with:
10-26 Clear
10-27 D.D.L. report
10-28 Registration request
10-29 Check for wants
10-29F Subject wanted, felony
10-29H Hazard potential from subject
10-29M Subject wanted, Misdemeanor
10-29V Vehicle Wanted
10-30 Doesn’t conform to regulations
10-32 Drowning
10-33 Alarm sounding, audible
10-34 Assist at the office
10-35 Time check
10-36 Confidential information
10-37 Identify the operator
10-39 Can () come to the radio?
10-40 Is () available for phone call?
10-42 Check the welfare of/at:

10-43 Call a doctor
10-45 Condition of the patient?
10-45A Good
10-45B Serious
10-45C Critical
10-45D Dead
10-49 Proceed to:
10-50 Under influence of drugs
10-51 Drunk
10-52 Resuscitator
10-53 Man down
10-54 Possible dead body
10-55 Coroner case
10-56 Suicide
10-56A Suicide attempt
10-57 Missing person
10-59 Security check
10-60 Lock-out
10-61 Miscellaneous public service
10-62 Meet a citizen
10-62A Take a report from a citizen
10-62B Civilian standby
10-63 Prepare to copy
10-64 Found property
10-66 Suspicious person
10-67 Person calling for help
10-68 Telephone for police
10-70 Prowler
10-71 Shooting
10-72 Gun involved
10-73 How do you receive?
10-79 Bomb threat
10-80 Explosion
10-86 Any radio traffic?
10-88 Assume the post
10-91 Animal
10-91A Animal, stray
10-91B Animal, noisy
10-91C Animal, injured
10-91D Animal, dead
10-91E Animal, bite
10-91G Animal, pickup
10-91J Animal, pickup collect
10-91L Animal, leash law violation
10-91V Animal, vicious
10-95 Need ID tech unit
10-97 Arrived at the scene
10-98 Available to assign

11 - Series Codes

The 11-series codes are used to indicate the status of an emergency. The number following the “11” will tell the responders what kind of response is required. For example, “11-71” means that a fire is burning and units should respond immediately.

11-10 Take report
11-24 Abandoned vehicle
11-25 Traffic hazard
11-26 Abandoned bicycle
11-27 10-27 W/driver held
11-28 10-28 W/driver held
11-40 Advise if ambulance needed
11-41 Ambulance needed
11-42 No ambulance needed
11-44 Deceased person (Coroner Req’d)
11-48 Furnish transportation
11-51 Escort
11-52 Funeral detail
11-54 Suspicious vehicle
11-55 Officer being followed by auto
11-56 11-55 W/dangerous persons
11-57 Unidentified auto at assignments
11-58 Radio monitored, use phone

11-59 Intensive attention: high hazard, business areas
11-60 Attack in a high hazard area
11-65 Signal light out
11-66 Defective signal light
11-78 Aircraft accident
11-79 Accident – Ambulance sent
11-80 Accident – Major injuries
11-81 Accident – Minor injuries
11-82 Accident – No injuries
11-83 Accident – No detail
11-84 Direct traffic
11-85 Tow truck required
11-94 Pedestrian stop
11-95 Routine traffic stop
11-96 Checking suspicious vehicle
11-97 Time/security check on patrol
11-98 Meet:
11-99 Officer needs help!

Code Signals - Police

Code signals are used to quickly relay information during an emergency. These are usually simple phrases like “Code Red” or “Code Blue”. A code signal is typically used when a situation requires immediate action and there is no time for a dispatcher to use the 10-series or 11-series codes.

Code 2 Urgent – no light or siren
Code 3 Use lights and siren
Code 4 No further assistance needed
Code 5 Stakeout
Code 6 Stay out of area
Code 7 Meal break
Code 8 Restroom break
Code 9 Summer uniform
Code 10 SWAT pre-call up
Code 11 SWAT Call up
Code 37 Subject/Property wanted

Code Signals - Medical & Fire

Code 10 Critical Trauma case
Code 20 Acute Trauma case
Code 30 Trauma case
Code 40 Serious case (IV started)
Code 50 Basic transport (not serious)
Code N Newsworthy event

Phonetic Alphabets

Emergency responders often use the phonetic alphabet to communicate clearly during an emergency. The phonetic alphabet is a set of standardized words that have distinct spelling and pronunciation.

Police

Adam
Boy
Charles
David
Edward
Frank
George
Henry
Ida
John
King
Lincoln
Mary

Nora
Ocean
Paul
Queen
Robert
Sam
Tom
Union
Victor
William
X-ray
Young
Zebra

Military

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliett
Kilo
Lima
Mike

November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
X-ray
Yankee
Zulu

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